Master of Arts in Spirituality, Culture and Health Catalog Description

The Department of Religion at Western Michigan University now offers a Master of Arts in spirituality, culture and health.

The catalog description is included here until it is added to the WMU catalog.

Program description

The Master of Arts in spirituality, culture and health is designed to provide students with the following:

• Awareness and knowledge of spirituality, culture, and religion in relation to patient care and cultural understanding of the body, illness, and health.
• Competency in using, and training others to use, practical tools for addressing religious, spiritual, and cultural diversity in health and human services settings.
• An advanced understanding of the impact of religious belief, spirituality, and culture on patient and provider relationships, and on the process of healing, in the context of the health care environment in the United States.
• The ability to act in a consulting role within an organization or community.

Admission requirements

• The completion of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution.
• A resume
• Submission of a 1200 word essay outlining the applicant’s specific interest in the program and how completion of the program will contribute to the applicant’s academic, professional, and personal goals.
• Three letters of recommendation from individuals who are able to evaluate the applicant’s potential for graduate study.  Letters can be submitted by current or former colleagues if the applicant has not had recent contact with undergraduate professors.
• Submission of a graduate application 

Program requirements

The Master of Arts in spirituality, culture and health consists of 30 credit hours, 12 of which must be in required courses. The remaining 18 credit hours may be elected from a variety of courses and departments.

Required courses (12 hours)

• REL 5100:  Religion, Culture and Health I: Cultures from the East (three credit hours)
• REL 5100:  Religion, Culture and Health II: Cultures from the Middle East and West (three credit hours)
• REL 6200:  Spirituality and Health: Survey of the Field (three credit hours)
• Field Practicum
• REL 7120 - Professional Field Experience Credits: two to 12 hours (three credit hours needed)
  Or HOL 6700 - Professional Field Experience Credits: one to six hours (three credit hours needed)

Elective Courses (18 hours)

• 18 hours of electives chosen from approved courses.